Good news! I got into UCSD's school of business. Here's my acceptance letter!
Bad news - I gotta plunk down a G by the end of February. Hmmm... I wonder if I could hold a rabbit hostage over the internet to raise money ... Maybe not!
1/31/2007
Dear Brent,
We are pleased to offer you admission as a graduate student in the Full-Time MBA program at the Rady School of Management, University of California, San Diego, for Fall 2007. Congratulations on your admission to our Full-Time MBA class. The Admissions Committee has recommended admission for a number of highly qualified individuals and we are glad to have you among this group. Please complete the necessary form by 2/28/2007 11:30:00 PM EST. If you are accepting our offer of admission, your $1000 deposit is required to hold your place in the class.
We are pleased to welcome you to UCSD and the Rady School.
Sincerely,
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Would you like roasted shallot-whipped potatoes with that?
While the San Diegoans are slogging through the muck of one of our 5 days of rain a year, I have been enjoying myself this week up in the sunny Pacific Northwest. Clear but cold, it has been, with AMAZING views of the snow-capped peaks that are usually shrouded in fog and mist this time of year.
I facilitated a workshop today at HP ~ Something along the lines of an excercise in Survivor-like mayhem where we trap a group of 12-14 professionals of radically different background, and coax them into working together as a cross-functional team while not killing each other. I used a lot of skills I've picked up over my numerous visits to the Wild Animal Park about how to maintain stable animal dynamics on the wild African savannah.
The best part of the trip, by far, has been the FOOD! I've stored up my appetite with humble breakfasts and lunches these past three days for scrumptious dinners at the restaurant at my hotel - http://www.heathmanlodge.com/ Stuffed cedar-plank salmon, roasted venison, Draper valley chicken breast... Just the best of the Northwest... Still, a guy could really do well with some home cooked Salsa Chicken, ya know? I will be very happy to head back down to San Diego on Friday...
I facilitated a workshop today at HP ~ Something along the lines of an excercise in Survivor-like mayhem where we trap a group of 12-14 professionals of radically different background, and coax them into working together as a cross-functional team while not killing each other. I used a lot of skills I've picked up over my numerous visits to the Wild Animal Park about how to maintain stable animal dynamics on the wild African savannah.
The best part of the trip, by far, has been the FOOD! I've stored up my appetite with humble breakfasts and lunches these past three days for scrumptious dinners at the restaurant at my hotel - http://www.heathmanlodge.com/ Stuffed cedar-plank salmon, roasted venison, Draper valley chicken breast... Just the best of the Northwest... Still, a guy could really do well with some home cooked Salsa Chicken, ya know? I will be very happy to head back down to San Diego on Friday...
Monday, January 29, 2007
How popular are you?
Hi
Find out how popular your first name has been over the past 100 years, just click below and enter your first name.
http://www.birthdayalarm.com/name
Find out how popular your first name has been over the past 100 years, just click below and enter your first name.
http://www.birthdayalarm.com/name
Saturday, January 27, 2007
A Letter from my grandmother
My dear, sweet Grandmother Alice mailed us a letter recently. It brought Kat and I such joy, we had to pass it along to y'all:
***************************************
***************************************
Dear Brent & Kathryn
I was so pleased to receive a Christmas Card from you two. I am so fortunate to be eighty nine yrs old & not be sick. Haven't had a cold nor anything like that this year.
Love you
Alice Elsner
ps The only work I do is fix my breakfast which is just oatmeal & toast & jelly
*****************************************
Grandmothers are great!
As days go by...
Life has been going along pretty well out here in SoCal. The temps are a little chillier but the sun still comes to visit (as we always remind those who we encourage to visit too!) - Kat and I have both been giving a lot of thought to schooling.
I have applied/interviewed/ day on campused at UCSD for their Rady School of Business. On Thursday, I went to a UCSD for their "MBA for a day" ~ Good stuff: Lots of access to the students, through student panels, lunch, and a happy hour. Not so good stuff: Very limited access to the faculty and staff. In fact, I had to "go off the reservation" and sneak into a class just to see what a class was like... Probably logistical challenges to blame I suppose...
My one photograph of UCSD's campus ~ The "Sun God" art piece, which is, in fact, a psychedelic chicken
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
Kathryn is applying to a prestigious summer program at Woods Hole, MA, which is an idyllic little village on Cape Cod. No word for sure for awhile, and even getting the application in will be a huge effort. Still, it is really exciting to see her P.I. (Science-ease for 'Boss') be so supportive about her development.
We caught up with our friends John and Heidi for a lecture from Darrel Falk with a group called UCSD Graduate Christian Fellowship. Falk is a Biology professor at Point Loma Nazarene University. He gave a short talk about how he reconciles Evangelical Christianity with Evolutionary Biology. It was a very interesting presentation, and I loved hearing the types of questions that, say, a graduate student in socialogy would ask.
My take on Falk is that he reconciles science and evangelical faith by keeping his scientific standing solid, while sliding around his Christianity further into liberal territory to make the whole thing work... Still, his is a valiant effort to live a defendable life in both camps... Something that few are willing to do.
To close this evening of intellectual stimulation, we got coffee and Golden Spoon, and watched spoiled teenagers with designer purses climb on the soda display at Ralph's. However, Heidi did find that pig-themed chimney lighter that she has been searching for so dilligently!
I have applied/interviewed/ day on campused at UCSD for their Rady School of Business. On Thursday, I went to a UCSD for their "MBA for a day" ~ Good stuff: Lots of access to the students, through student panels, lunch, and a happy hour. Not so good stuff: Very limited access to the faculty and staff. In fact, I had to "go off the reservation" and sneak into a class just to see what a class was like... Probably logistical challenges to blame I suppose...
My one photograph of UCSD's campus ~ The "Sun God" art piece, which is, in fact, a psychedelic chicken
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
Kathryn is applying to a prestigious summer program at Woods Hole, MA, which is an idyllic little village on Cape Cod. No word for sure for awhile, and even getting the application in will be a huge effort. Still, it is really exciting to see her P.I. (Science-ease for 'Boss') be so supportive about her development.
We caught up with our friends John and Heidi for a lecture from Darrel Falk with a group called UCSD Graduate Christian Fellowship. Falk is a Biology professor at Point Loma Nazarene University. He gave a short talk about how he reconciles Evangelical Christianity with Evolutionary Biology. It was a very interesting presentation, and I loved hearing the types of questions that, say, a graduate student in socialogy would ask.
My take on Falk is that he reconciles science and evangelical faith by keeping his scientific standing solid, while sliding around his Christianity further into liberal territory to make the whole thing work... Still, his is a valiant effort to live a defendable life in both camps... Something that few are willing to do.
To close this evening of intellectual stimulation, we got coffee and Golden Spoon, and watched spoiled teenagers with designer purses climb on the soda display at Ralph's. However, Heidi did find that pig-themed chimney lighter that she has been searching for so dilligently!
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Check out Kat's Paper!
Here is a cool (and decipherable) write up about Kat's new paper. Check it out - I especially can relate to the car analogy after my time at GM!
http://www.scripps.edu/newsandviews/i_20070122/waterman.html
http://www.scripps.edu/newsandviews/i_20070122/waterman.html
Saturday, January 20, 2007
These days...
There is a program on our local NPR radio station that I like, called "These Days..." I'd like to provide you, faithful (or unfaithful) reader a snippet of "These days... for Brent and Kat."
These days for us both ...
These days for us both ...
- We are going to do more entertaining, starting tonight with friends coming over for dinner and games.
- We are planning a trip to Tucson over President's Day to see our dear friends Terri and Derek. We plan to spend the long weekend with them, and to try our luck with desert camping (home of scorching days, freezing nights, stinging scorpions, and barking spiders)
- We are reading through "Night Lights," by James and Shirley Dobson, together.
These days for Kat...
- She is a proud co-author of a paper in the prestigious journal, "Science." Check out the abstract! My baby is SO SMART!
- She is reading, in typical fashion, a bunch of books all at once. I last saw her cracking open, "The Peacemaker" by Ken Sande, which was recommended in our premarriage counseling.
- She is growing more and more lovely in my eyes each day.
These days for Brent...
- He is getting ready for a business trip to Portland in a week or so.
- He is applying to Business Schools and will interview with UCSD on Tuesday
- He is grieving, along with all the other recently converted fans, the early demise of the Chargers who suffered an early playoff exit after a magical 14-2 season
And that's the news that's fit to print... or at least blog. Have fun, be safe, and stay in touch!
Saturday, January 13, 2007
The Hawk and the Crows
I took a walk around HP on Friday. It was a cool and clear day, and I found myself in a bit of a philosophical mood. Now, those of you who know me will attest that I am generally not exactly Thoreau walking around Walden Pond. I tend to be more along the lines of the "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" droners who prize efficiency and results over introspection...
But on this particular walk, I noticed something cool. A hawk, somewhat like this one, was perched on top of a light pole. He was sitting unruffled, serene, and beautiful.
Meanwhile, three big, ugly nasty crows were squaking noisily and orbitting him like fighter planes in formation. They circled and shrilled, and every so often, would dive bomb down like a Kamikaze Zero at the hawk, who stayed stony and unmoved despite all their bluster.
I stopped walking and just watched it unfold above me. The crows came closer and closer, and cawed louder and louder. I thought for sure one of them was just going to nail this hawk, and he would get pissed off and whack one of them. (Though the crows were big, the hawk was clearly the stronger bird.)
Finally, after a few more passes, the hawk unfurled his beautiful wings and flapped off to another perch, hopefully which would not be guarded by such fiercely territorial residents.
But the encounter really got me thinking... Who should we view as the winner here? The crows who won their perch back, or the hawk who proved his mettle by standing his ground a lot longer than I would? I would tend to think that the crows won, though in an ugly fashion, and the hawk lost, though proved graceful.
And if I were one of these actors, who would I want to be? The ugly winner or the graceful loser? Is it better to suceed at all costs, or to accept your defeat if it means doing it with "class." That I have been pondering since then... I do wonder what you think?
Weak in the knees after Restaurant Week!
On Thursday, Kathryn, her friend Katie, and I got to enjoy a real treat! It's called San Diego Restaurant Week, and its this really neat deal where a bunch of the nicer restaurants throughout San Diego offer a limited selection of 3-course dinners for a fixed, reduced price.
Ever the erstwhile frugal foodies, Katie, Kat and I went to Jakes in Del Mar. This is a favorite for Kat and I for happy hour, because it is RIGHT on the shore in Del Mar, and is an absolutely GORGEOUS place to watch the sunset.
Our dinner was late - 8:45 - So we had the entire day to anticipate and salivate! The restaurant was still nice and lively when we arrived and got our table. Katie and Kat, ever the inquisitive scientists, had researched the menu ahead of time and confidantly ordered the calamari appetizer, grilled mahi entree, and famous hula pie for desert. I opted for crab cakes, 16 oz ribeye, and some of the enormous hula pie, too!
The appetizers were excellent. Generous, plump calamari, and a large, rich crab cake with a wonderful hollandaise-ish sauce. Their mahi was quite good, and though I really liked the Rosemary Garlic spread for my giganto steak, the cut was a bit fatty, even for my well-marbled preferences, and so I was a little bit let down... I guess you should know better than to order steak at a place that is 20 feet from the Pacific Ocean... Save that for Nebraska or something.
All in all, a real treat, and I am VERY glad that I have finally been able to go to Restaurant Week!
Ever the erstwhile frugal foodies, Katie, Kat and I went to Jakes in Del Mar. This is a favorite for Kat and I for happy hour, because it is RIGHT on the shore in Del Mar, and is an absolutely GORGEOUS place to watch the sunset.
Our dinner was late - 8:45 - So we had the entire day to anticipate and salivate! The restaurant was still nice and lively when we arrived and got our table. Katie and Kat, ever the inquisitive scientists, had researched the menu ahead of time and confidantly ordered the calamari appetizer, grilled mahi entree, and famous hula pie for desert. I opted for crab cakes, 16 oz ribeye, and some of the enormous hula pie, too!
The appetizers were excellent. Generous, plump calamari, and a large, rich crab cake with a wonderful hollandaise-ish sauce. Their mahi was quite good, and though I really liked the Rosemary Garlic spread for my giganto steak, the cut was a bit fatty, even for my well-marbled preferences, and so I was a little bit let down... I guess you should know better than to order steak at a place that is 20 feet from the Pacific Ocean... Save that for Nebraska or something.
All in all, a real treat, and I am VERY glad that I have finally been able to go to Restaurant Week!
Saturday, January 06, 2007
The Secret of Happyness
Last night, Kathyrn and I went over to our neighborhood theatre to see Will Smith's movie, "The Pursuit of Happyness." Beyond the fact that we got there a bit later than we should have so we had to wait in a long outdoor line in sub-60 degree conditions (BRR) and then go into a dark theatre and sit near the front, where we discovered that some kind soul had left gum on the back of Kat's seat, it was a really nice time.
Maybe to really appreciate the film, which is about a down-on-his-luck single father who is very Arthur Millerianly slaving away as a Bone Density Salesman while competing for a selective, unpaid stock brokering internship at Dean Witter, you have to overcome at LEAST a little adversity...
In any case, in many ways, I really loved the film. It is a wonderful "Father-son" performance from the Smith's, and portrays a great message to those who have much about the need to be more generous, and in the case of the bumbling stock brokers, to actually get a clue that life is not always rosy for everyone.
But as Kat and I were "debriefing" the movie afterwards, we realized that something was bothering us. Smith's character, Chris Gardner, overcomes tremendous adversity and does so, while not perfectly, with great nobility and resourcefulness. He has this great reservoir of fortitude which we learn is the dream of... MONEY... lots of it! The driving force for him to achieve happyness (sic) is financial stability. The only mention of God or faith is at a homeless mission where Chris holds his sleeping son close while an assortment of winos and hobos "foolishly" pray and sway.
So this, we realized in discussion, is what bothers us. Great story, amazing performances, and a heartwarming ending (I hope I haven't given away too much), but the lasting message is, "Pursue your dreams with your all your strength, and someday you will have the only thing that matters... financial success."
As a Christian, this is a message that I regard as a "Fool's Promise." More so, as someone who has faced adversity, though not on the level of Smith's Chris Gardner, I reflect on what a source of strength my faith has been... How sad to see a character presented as so Christ-like in his actions, yet totally neglecting the power of Christ to sustain in times of trouble.
It reminds me of the lyrics of a favorite worship song:
You Are My All In All - Dennis Jernigan
You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord to give up I'd be a fool
You are my all in all
Jesus Lamb of God worthy is your name
Jesus Lamb of God worthy is your name
Epilogue: Great movie, great story, but as is so oftern the case, the message can't be just "swallowed" without some further processing... - B-
Maybe to really appreciate the film, which is about a down-on-his-luck single father who is very Arthur Millerianly slaving away as a Bone Density Salesman while competing for a selective, unpaid stock brokering internship at Dean Witter, you have to overcome at LEAST a little adversity...
In any case, in many ways, I really loved the film. It is a wonderful "Father-son" performance from the Smith's, and portrays a great message to those who have much about the need to be more generous, and in the case of the bumbling stock brokers, to actually get a clue that life is not always rosy for everyone.
But as Kat and I were "debriefing" the movie afterwards, we realized that something was bothering us. Smith's character, Chris Gardner, overcomes tremendous adversity and does so, while not perfectly, with great nobility and resourcefulness. He has this great reservoir of fortitude which we learn is the dream of... MONEY... lots of it! The driving force for him to achieve happyness (sic) is financial stability. The only mention of God or faith is at a homeless mission where Chris holds his sleeping son close while an assortment of winos and hobos "foolishly" pray and sway.
So this, we realized in discussion, is what bothers us. Great story, amazing performances, and a heartwarming ending (I hope I haven't given away too much), but the lasting message is, "Pursue your dreams with your all your strength, and someday you will have the only thing that matters... financial success."
As a Christian, this is a message that I regard as a "Fool's Promise." More so, as someone who has faced adversity, though not on the level of Smith's Chris Gardner, I reflect on what a source of strength my faith has been... How sad to see a character presented as so Christ-like in his actions, yet totally neglecting the power of Christ to sustain in times of trouble.
It reminds me of the lyrics of a favorite worship song:
You Are My All In All - Dennis Jernigan
You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord to give up I'd be a fool
You are my all in all
Jesus Lamb of God worthy is your name
Jesus Lamb of God worthy is your name
Epilogue: Great movie, great story, but as is so oftern the case, the message can't be just "swallowed" without some further processing... - B-
Monday, January 01, 2007
New Year's Heave
Happy New Year to all! The Thompson's have gone, but our little "Bed n Breakfast" is still happily full with the Applegate's, who have come out for a little visit. The title of this post is in homage to my good friend, "The 24 hour New Year's Stomach Bug" which knocked me down for the count in a lot of gruesome ways on New Year's Eve... Not too much fun!
But... Before all that unpleasantness... the holiday was going pretty well!
On the day after Christmas, we saw the Thompsons off and went up to the OC to visit with our friends from Oregon, Brad & Janelle, and their large family who were down for a visit. We marshalled together 3 SUV's to take their family and us (4 adults and 6 kids for those of you who are counting at home) over to Balboa Island - Home to carousels, frozen bananas, skeeball, and some really nice beaches. Good times with the kids. Best moment - Watching in amusement as the older boys g0t launched into the air with the bungee swing... Worst moment - Watching in horror as the youngest boy, 6 or 7-ish, threw a frisbee and whacked an old lady in the head that left her near catatonic.... She recovered and no lawsuits were filed. Must have been some residual Christmas charity. Here are some pics of the day!
Launch!!!
Cute Grace on the cute little 3-car ferry across the Harbor
All those ski lessons finally ... well, ok, NOT paying off...
We also got to see Kat's Great-Aunt and second cousins on this trip, which was a really nice addition. Just a day trip, though. We headed home and got ready for my folks who were coming to town.
On their first full day, Mom and Kat went shopping at a new mall while Dad and I checked out the birds over at San Eligo Lagoon. We had a nice dinner down at a restaurant on the Harbor, and then drove through the light display at the Del Mar Fairgrounds
Next day we went out to Sea World. That place is tons of fun! We had never been there , primarily due to the stiff sticker price, but I have to say it is worth it. Thompson's helped us alleviate the hurt a bit with a present of a season pass, too! - I love my In-Laws!!!
So, anyways, after a day of dolphins, whales, penguins, and walruses plus some ten-thousand visitors, I got really sick. Did put me in the right frame of mind to watch no less than 5 football games over 2 days... At one point, I think the fever got to me and I started hallucinating that I had an announcer and a color commentator talking about me and my lethargic state, "Ohhh, nellie... This guy looks to be out for the count!" "That's right, Keith, I haven't seen anything move so little since we had that trainer with the tree sloth at the studio..."
But thankfully, I have recovered and am looking forward to a much better day of touring about towards the desert with Mom and Dad tomorrow... And THAT'S what is news with us!
But... Before all that unpleasantness... the holiday was going pretty well!
On the day after Christmas, we saw the Thompsons off and went up to the OC to visit with our friends from Oregon, Brad & Janelle, and their large family who were down for a visit. We marshalled together 3 SUV's to take their family and us (4 adults and 6 kids for those of you who are counting at home) over to Balboa Island - Home to carousels, frozen bananas, skeeball, and some really nice beaches. Good times with the kids. Best moment - Watching in amusement as the older boys g0t launched into the air with the bungee swing... Worst moment - Watching in horror as the youngest boy, 6 or 7-ish, threw a frisbee and whacked an old lady in the head that left her near catatonic.... She recovered and no lawsuits were filed. Must have been some residual Christmas charity. Here are some pics of the day!
Launch!!!
Cute Grace on the cute little 3-car ferry across the Harbor
All those ski lessons finally ... well, ok, NOT paying off...
We also got to see Kat's Great-Aunt and second cousins on this trip, which was a really nice addition. Just a day trip, though. We headed home and got ready for my folks who were coming to town.
On their first full day, Mom and Kat went shopping at a new mall while Dad and I checked out the birds over at San Eligo Lagoon. We had a nice dinner down at a restaurant on the Harbor, and then drove through the light display at the Del Mar Fairgrounds
Next day we went out to Sea World. That place is tons of fun! We had never been there , primarily due to the stiff sticker price, but I have to say it is worth it. Thompson's helped us alleviate the hurt a bit with a present of a season pass, too! - I love my In-Laws!!!
So, anyways, after a day of dolphins, whales, penguins, and walruses plus some ten-thousand visitors, I got really sick. Did put me in the right frame of mind to watch no less than 5 football games over 2 days... At one point, I think the fever got to me and I started hallucinating that I had an announcer and a color commentator talking about me and my lethargic state, "Ohhh, nellie... This guy looks to be out for the count!" "That's right, Keith, I haven't seen anything move so little since we had that trainer with the tree sloth at the studio..."
But thankfully, I have recovered and am looking forward to a much better day of touring about towards the desert with Mom and Dad tomorrow... And THAT'S what is news with us!
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